KIDS FIRST! News

This 2015 space odyssey delivers an emotional survival story filled with humor and love Matt Damon’s performance really steals the show and the direction by Ridley Scott is perhaps his best in years. Based on the best-selling novel by Andy Weir, we are drawn in by the humanness of the situation when Astronaut Mark Watney is left behind by his crew and finds himself stranded and alone on a hostile planet. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Willie J. comments, “The sheer message and theme of this movie and the way they’re presented is what gives this movie its greatness. It’s a movie that explores the human condition and has something positive to say about it.” Keefer B. adds, “This film executes this kind of story in a novel way… Not only is it a captivating scenario that keeps you on the edge of your seat but, the protagonist is incredibly likable and complex.” See their full reviews below.

The Martian
By Willie J, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

Ridley Scott turns in his finest film since Blade Runner. The Martian is such a touching film, that its flaws can be easily overlooked and forgotten. The sheer message and theme of this movie and the way they’re presented is what gives this movie its greatness. It’s a movie that explores the human condition and has something positive to say about it. We need that in today’s cinema and I thank the cast and crew of this movie for giving us this gem. It’s an experience worth having.

The Martian stars Matt Damon in one of his career best performances as an astronaut who gets stuck on Mars when his teams leaves him behind, thinking he’s dead after he is struck by debris in the middle of a storm. When he is able to get in touch with NASA, their higher-ups and a few other organizations, rally up to rescue him. I have to tell you that is NOT like Gravity. It is not a one-man show, though Damon does have significant screen time. There is an entire supporting ensemble that provides serviceable and strong performances. And yet, despite the acting of Chiwetel Ejiofor, Jeff Daniels, Jessica Chastain, Kate Mara, Kristen Wiig, and Michael Peña, Matt Damon does steal the show. He is very committed with every character choice and really inhabits the man he’s portraying. Damon doesn’t layer him with underlying sadness or anxiety, instead he shows us the determination of a man who has weighed his options, and has chosen to do something about his situation. Towards the end, when he finally breaks down, it hits us harder. We get choked up seeing this person who has stayed strong for so long and then finally lets out what he’s been holding back. It’s a powerful thing.

Secondly, the film has an amazing tone. With a soundtrack filled with Gloria Gaynor, ABBA, and David Bowie, the fun of this movie won’t go understated. The soundtrack compliments the numerous comedic moments that come at a rate that could have this film labeled as a sci-fi comedy. It is funny and entertaining and will have you dancing or humming along. It’s good Scott gave this movie this tone because it matches the lasting message he wants us to have – that even though the situation is bad, a combination of survival instincts and intelligence can get us through it. And, with the love and care of others, a seemingly insurmountable situation becomes surmountable.

I’ll tell you my favorite part. There is a moment in the movie when NASA is having trouble getting supplies to our protagonist and the issues are being broadcast. A major science organization is watching it from China, and they decide to help out NASA. There are no hard feelings, ill will, prideful rejections or rivalries going on. The Chinese organization asks for nothing in return. It is just two organization banning together for the same cause. It is beautiful and speaks volumes, especially considering the public perception of American-Chinese relations.

Now there are those who may say that the tone demeans the more dramatic moments, but I disagree. The dramatic moments in this movie aren’t really all that dramatic anyway. They’re more like lighthearted drama if anything. There is one moment in the movie in which we abruptly and rather un-smoothly get shown the inevitable “problem” within the film. The Debbie Downer that the protagonist must overcome to make his victory that much sweeter. I’ll admit, it isn’t presented in the best way, but that’s not the most dramatic part of the film. That comes at the time our main character believes he’s about to go home. That moment is built not by the tone of the film, but by the performance of Matt Damon.

As a matter of fact, the only criticism other than the aforementioned is the pacing of the movie. It’s about 10 minutes too long. There are many throwaway scenes, scenes that aren’t necessary and could be done without whether because they’re repetitive, or just get in the way of Scott getting to his point quicker and more effectively. The problems ensue towards the end as well, when the pacing suffers and so does the tension. It is so close to being what it should have been, but I wasn’t hanging on as much as I could or should have. That’s because of the moment of comedic relief that is added and the same with many of the scenes I mentioned. There are some scenes that are necessary, or helpful, but could be trimmed down.

Nonetheless, the flaws are minor and able to be overlooked. The Martian is still one of the best movies of this decade. With that said, I give this movie 5 out 5 stars and, due to some surprisingly frequent language, I recommend it for ages 13 to 18. It opens October 2 at a theater near you. Please go see it.

This film is based on the true story of high-wire artist Philippe Petit who recruits a team of people to help him realize his dream: to walk the immense void between the World Trade Center towers. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Lainey A. comments, “This live action feature film directed by Robert Zemeckis is phenomenal!  There is nothing about it that I don’t like.” See her full review below.

The Walk
By: Lainey A., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

This live action feature film directed by Robert Zemeckis is phenomenal!  There is nothing about it that I don’t like.

The Walk is set in 1974 and is about a high-wire artist named Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) who lives in Paris.  He sees a photo in a magazine for the construction of the Twin Towers in NYC and gets the inspiration to walk a tight rope connecting the two buildings.  This is highly illegal and very dangerous. He meets a girl named Annie Allix (Charlotte Le Bon) who falls in love with him and supports him in following his dream.  He finds a mentor and father figure in Pappa Rudy (Ben Kingsley) and 5 other accomplices who support him in this life or death adventure.  The Walk is based on a true story.

The Walk is a drama/thriller with a spice of romance and comedy.  Also it is a true story and that makes it even cooler and much more intense!  This is also an educational movie because I didn’t know much about high-wire artists until I watched this movie. I learned that there is a lot of science and math involved in how the wire is secured to provide safety for the walker.

My favorite character is Philippe Petit (Joseph Gordon-Levitt) because, he is just flat-out amazing and super believable!  My favorite scene is when Philippe is facing his biggest dream of tightrope walking between the twin towers. They were 140 feet apart and 110 stories high! This scene is so realistic and exhilarating that my palms were sweaty and I noticed audience members squirming in their seats.   Philippe said that high-wire artists are never supposed to look down when tightrope walking.  Does he heed his own advice? You’ll have to watch the film to find out.

The Walk has jaw-dropping special effects.  The opening scenes in Paris are completely in black and white except for an occasional pop of color which sets a nostalgic mood.  The Twin Towers were already gone when this movie was filmed, so it’s interesting that they were able to make this look so realistic. This part is truly fantastic!  Watching it in 3D makes it so lifelike and adds to the intensity of the viewing experience.

I recommend The Walk for ages 11 to 18 due to the suspense and some mild language.   Hands down, I give this movie a 5 out of 5 stars because it is so amazing! The special effects can’t be beat and the acting is super strong! I loved this movie and it is definitely on my favorites list!  You can see this movie On Imax on September 30^th and everywhere else on October 9.

The Intern
By Mia A, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

The Intern, directed by Nancy Meyers, is very funny and entertaining. While this film is not action packed or suspenseful, I enjoyed every minute and genuinely cared about the characters.

The story is about a retired widow named Ben (Robert De Niro) who is looking for something to fill the empty spaces in his life, so he becomes an intern at a fashion industry business. He ends up interning for Jules Ostin (Anne Hathaway) and tags along while she lives her crazy life. It is hard for her to be a wife, mother, run an online fashion business and do everything well. The Intern is what I like to call a “mutt genre,” combining more than one genre in one movie – in this case it is comedy and drama.

I love the relationship between Jules and Ben because it is realistic and heartwarming. Ben is funny without trying to be, is friendly and kind and would make a very good grandpa or Dad. My mom says that Robert De Niro is in a lot of what our family calls “shoot ‘em up, kill ‘em up” movies. He must be a really good actor because the character he plays in this movie, Ben is so kind and sensitive.

I have been a big Anne Hathaway fan since Ella Enchanted was released and this is one of my favorite movies that she has been in. She is completely believable as Jules. My favorite character though is Becky (Christina Scherer) because she is hilarious in a dramatically funny kind of way. I hope that she will be in other movies because I can easily become a fan. The acting is very strong and all the actors pull together a perfectly wonderful film which I appreciate.

The message to this story is that there will always be someone in life to help you through your problems. Jules is surprised that the person who helps her is not who she thought it would be. Family is not always blood related, your closet family can be anyone, even friends.

I recommend The Intern for ages 12 to 18 due to mild language and suggestive and awkward touching. I rate it 5 out of 5 sparkling golden stars. If you are looking for an entertaining movie that is easy to watch, go see The Intern in theatres near you starting September 25.

This sequel to Adam Sandler’s successful Hotel Transylvania picks up with Dracula and his friends try to bring out the monster in his half human, half vampire grandson in order to keep Mavis from leaving the hotel. Starring the voice talent of Sandler, Andy Samberg and Selena Gomez, it opens September 25. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Lainey A. (age 13) comments, “This animated movie directed by Genndy Tartakosky is truly hilarious and left the audience and me laughing out loud. If you didn’t enjoy the original Hotel Transylvania very much, give this sequel another try because I truly believe this movie is much better than the original. “ Mia A. (age 11) adds, “I enjoyed Hotel Transylvania 2 better than the original movie because the writing is funnier and the plot more intriguing. “ See their full reviews below.

Hotel Transylvania 2
By Lainey A., KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 13

This animated movie directed by Genndy Tartakosky is truly hilarious and left the audience and me laughing out loud. If you didn’t enjoy the original Hotel Transylvania very much, give this sequel another try because I truly believe this movie is much better than the original.

By far my favorite character is Dracula (Adam Sandler), because he is such a special character. He is so loving, forgiving and maybe just a little crazy sometimes. This movie makes me want to have a grandfather like him because he is so powerful and loving. A continuous joke is Dracula trying to get used to his cell phone. His fingernails are too long to type with so he is always frustrated with this new technology.

The relationship between Dracula and his daughter, Mavis (Selena Gomez) is so beautiful and memorable. With very exciting news, Mavis is pregnant! It’s a boy! The strong bond between baby Dennis and his “Vampa” (vampire grandpa) Dracula, is my absolute favorite relationship through this whole movie because their love is so strong even though it is hard for Dracula to accept that his grandson is half human. Dracula is concerned that his grandson hasn’t indicated that he is going to be a vampire, so he takes five of his hotel friends to try to scare the fangs out of Dennis. They go on this ridiculous adventure to do whatever it takes to get Dennis’s fangs showing. Will Dennis be more like his mother who is a vampire, or stay a human like his father?

Adam Sandler puts his own spin on this movie. As co-writer of the screenplay, his goofy short songs pop up throughout the movie. Not only are the song lyrics funny, but they are also relatable and entertaining for the audience because he takes commonly known songs such as twinkle twinkle and alters the words to be slightly inappropriate and silly.

The special effects are outstanding and I enjoyed all of the different things they do with the animation. I watched this film in 3D and loved how it makes the characters and settings pop and makes each setting special. In the scene where Dracula leads Dennis and some other monster guests on a crazy adventure, there are so many special effects that it becomes total chaos.

The message of this film is that no matter how different someone else is, they could be the best thing that ever happens to you, so love them no matter how different they are. This film really makes me realize how crucial to accept others.

The character Blobby, a gelatinous blob, is definitely a crowd pleaser and the younger audiences laughed out loud at his silly antics. The target audience for Hotel Transylvania 2 is anyone who wants to laugh and have a good time. I recommend this movie for ages 5 to 18 because some of the scenes might be a little scary for some young children. I recommend seeing this movie in 3D as well because it is a very cool experience and give it 5 out of 5 stars because this movie is truly hilarious.

Hotel Transylvania 2

By Mia A, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 11

Hotel Transylvania 2, directed by Genndy Tartakovsky, is super entertaining! This animated movie is definitely a comedy filled with many funny lines and actions.

This movie is about Mavis (Selena Gomez) and her husband Jonathan (Andy Samberg). Mavis is pregnant and has a baby boy. Will Mavis’s baby boy fulfill the expectation of being a vampire or will he be just a simple human?

I love the animation and watching it in 3D really helps everything pop and come to life. I watched the behind the scene video clips and realized how much hard work went into making this movie, including the detailed animation and the voice-overs for the characters. There are so many details in this film from designing every tree, sign and rock to creating a certain mood.

I enjoyed Hotel Transylvania 2 better than the original movie because the writing is funnier and the plot more intriguing. After seeing the sequel it made me realize how much more I cared about the characters in Hotel Transylvania 2 than I did in the original. If you were disappointed in the original, give number 2 a chance because it might just change your mind.

The moral of this story is that people you care about are going to grow up and you have to eventually let them go. This is a very good moral that can teach many people.

Adam Sandler is amazing in his roll as the voice of Dracula. While all the voice actors are good, Adam Sandler is particularly funny. My favorite line of Dracula’s says is his response to Dennis when he says, “Blah blah blah.” Dracula replies, “I do not say ‘blah blah blah!'” in a funny voice. My favorite character in this movie is Wayne The Werewolf because he is so funny. My favorite line said by Wayne is,” We don’t need to hunt anymore; we have pop tarts!”

I rate this movie 5 out of 5 vampires because all of the comedy, animation and great performances by the voice actors. I recommend it for ages 5 to 18 because there are some parts in the film that could be scary to younger kids. This movie is a very funny film with amazing animation, so make sure to see Hotel Transylvania 2 in theatres September 25.

This second film in the Maze Runner series follows on the heels of the first film, barely skipping a beat with non-stop action. The film is incredibly intense so be prepared to be jostled. KIDS FIRST! Film Critic Brianna B. comments, “The plot has many unexpected twists and turns that I greatly enjoy. It has tons of believable action and the anticipation keeps growing and growing.” Lainey A., adds, “As an avid science fiction fan, I couldn’t wait to watch this sequel.  The special effects are phenomenal makes me wonder how they make each setting so realistic.  If you love non-stop action, Maze Runners: The Scorch Trials is a very intense film that will not disappoint you.” See their full reviews below.
Maze Runner: The Scorch Trials

Reviewed by Brianna Hope Beaton, KIDS FIRST! Film Critic, age 16

The second installment of the adaptation Maze Runner is a very exiting film. The plot has many unexpected twists and turns that I greatly enjoy. It has tons of believable action and the anticipation keeps growing and growing.

Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) and his fellow Gladers are finally out of the Maze and in, what they think is a place that keeps kids from WCKD, a corporation that put them in the maze in the first place. They are put there for experimental reasons. After, unfortunately finding out that the ones that saved them are really WCKD themselves, the Gladers run for their lives and their freedom while trying to find the resistance fighters.

The main reason I really like this film is due to the excitement and unpredictable plot line. While watching this film I always find myself wondering what will happen next and sitting at the edge of my seat. The visuals are very clear, elaborate, and actually draw you into the film. The characters have great personalities that are distinct and completely different from one another, which add to the overall success of the film. My favorite character is Minho (Ki Hong Lee), because in many of the scenes he is the character that has so much courage and, instead of running he deals with the problem at hand. Because of his bravery many lives are saved throughout the film. My favorite scene is at the very beginning scene, because of the simple fact that it is an almost seamless continuation for the Maze Runner. I always like it when the same scene for the end of one film is the beginning of the sequel.  Just as a side note I will say, in order to really understand and appreciate this film, you should watch Maze Runner, before watching this sequel.

A message that I found early on in this film is that sometimes it’s better to follow your instinctual gut than other people. You just don’t always know who and what to trust.

I recommend this film for ages 13 to 18 and for anyone who loves the initial installment of the Maze Runner. Families and friends will definitely enjoy it together. I give it 4 out of 5 stars for its excitement, visuals and great plotline.

This live action feature film directed by Wes Ball is an epic movie that takes you through a truly exhilarating adventure.  As an avid science fiction fan, I couldn’t wait to watch this sequel.  The special effects are phenomenal makes me wonder how they make each setting so realistic.  If you love non-stop action, Maze Runners: The Scorch Trials is a very intense film that will not disappoint you.

While the plot is enjoyable, I do recommended that you want to watch the first movie, The Maze Runner, before watching this sequel. The storyline is quite complex and might be confusing to follow if you’re unfamiliar with the original film or book.  In this film, Thomas (Dylan O’Brien) and the Gladers try to escape the organization WCKD whose main purpose is to find a cure for “the Flare,” a plague that turns people into zombie-like creature known as Cranks.  The Gladers have to face new and unbelievable obstacles that come their way in order to survive in the Scorch, a desolate wasteland that is uninhabitable by humans.

My favorite scene is full of amazing special effects!  Brenda (Rosa Salazar) and Thomas try to escape a “crazy” Crank infestation through a dilapidated city-scape. Having just met, they need to rely on each other for their own survival and that’s what makes this scene really special.

My favorite actor in The Scorch Trials is Dylan O’Brien because his character, Thomas, is very believable in this role.  O’Brien is surrounded by a strong supporting cast of Gladers.  Theresa (Kaya Scodelario), Minho (Ki Hong Lee) and Newt (Thomas Brodie-Sangster) really portray their parts well and it seems like they all actually care about each other.

The Gladers make sacrifices and come together as a family to insure each other’s survival.  The message is that people are at their strongest when working together.

The target audience for this movie is any teen that enjoys fast action, science fiction thrillers.  While the movie only lasts two hours, it feels like longer because there are few breaks in the action.  The ending of the movie is a total cliffhanger, leaving me on the edge of my seat and sets the audience up for the third sequel, The Death Cure.  I recommend this movie for ages 13 to 18 due to its intensity.  I give this film 4.5 out of 5 stars because it is well put together and the special effects can’t be beat.

This movie opens in theaters September 18 so don’t miss it.